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Established 2004

Ruddlesden geotechnical

Ruddlesden geotechnical provides ground investigation, geotechnical consultancy and contamination assessment services.

Based in Exeter, but covering the whole of the UK, albeit primarily concentrated in the South West, Ruddlesden geotechnical was formed in 2004.

Ruddlesden geotechnical works on behalf of a wide client base, including local, regional and national housing developers, housing associations, commercial developers, building contractors, structural and civil engineers, architects, building consultants, quantity surveyors, local authorities and private individuals.

Development projects range from single dwellings and extensions to large housing estates, multi-storey flats, offices, industrial units, roads, slopes, schools, hospitals and basements.

The services and projects listed on this web-site provide an indication of those undertaken by Ruddlesden geotechnical, but others are carried out. If your requirement is not readily identifiable on this web-site, please contact us as we may still be able to help you.

  • AGS
  • Constructionline
  • CSCS
  • SMAS
  • ECFC trust

Latest news

Recent projects

  • Latest news

    20 Aug 2026

    Start over-winter monitoring before it is too late!

    Look at these groundwater monitoring dataloggers! Whilst some loggers are still in the ground, monitoring groundwater levels all year round, these lot were taken out of their boreholes in May or June this year, once they had proven that they had recorded the seasonal groundwater peaks.As we come towards the end of a particularly dry summer, it might seem difficult to think about monitoring groundwater levels when conditions are at their wettest. But there is considerable benefit in starting over-winter groundwater monitoring sooner rather than later.. One year, the seasonal groundwater peak will be in November, and if the loggers don’t go in the ground before then, they won’t be able to record this!With Ruddlesden geotechnical, there is no financial benefit in delaying the start of over-winter groundwater monitoring; we charge the same to start monitoring in September as we do in December

    Start over-winter monitoring before it is too late!
    Start over-winter monitoring before it is too late!

  • Recent projects

    Multiple Contamination Assessment and Consultancy Services at Holiday Park, Cornwall

    A full range of contamination investigation and assessment services have been provided for a large and on-going holiday accommodation development in Cornwall. The Phase 1 Contamination Assessmentidentified that much of the site was underlain by a former licensed and unlicensed landfill site. The dynamic sampling/ windowless sample boreholes and trial pits, together with contamination laboratory testing, identified the site to be underlain by made ground/ fill, most of which comprised locally derived soil with no significantly elevated levels of contamination; however, localised areas of elevated levels of contamination were identified. A detailed quantitative risk assessment (DQRA) was undertaken, which included bioaccessibility testing and modifying the exposure duration within the CLEA model, to demonstrate that whilst some of the recorded levels of contamination might exceed the generic assessment criteria (GAC) for a standard residential land use, the recorded levels of contamination were unlikely to be harmful to human healthgiven the proposed end use. Particularly high levels of ground gas (methane and ground gas) have been recorded. Long-term gas monitoring and a large dataset has been required to undertake a robust ground gas assessment, where peak and steady flow rates and maximum concentrations, together with groundwater level and atmospheric pressure fluctuations, have been studied in detail to ensure the correct site characterisation and gas protection measure proposals. Continuous client and local authority engagement together with clear reporting have been crucial at this site to ensure that relatively complex issues were understood by all and the relevant planning conditions have been discharged.

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  • Recent projects

    CPT Testing Used to Supplement Borehole Data

    Following an initial phase of geotechnical investigation, comprising cable percussive boreholes, cone penetration (CPT) testing was undertaken to obtain a greater resolution of data, to confirm the ground and groundwater conditions beneath the site. The testing caused minimal site disturbance, which was critical, as the site investigation works were being undertaken within the confines of a residential care home. The testing was also rapid, which allowed many locations to be undertaken within a day, meaning that any inconvenience caused to the residents was limited to a single day. Ruddlesden geotechnical commissioned an international contractor to undertake the testing and provided on site supervision and interpretation of the data, which was ultimately used to inform a foundation options appraisal.

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